Office coach wants bosses to give staff more inspiration

Thursday April 18 2013

Ms Joyce Mbaya, who surprised many in 2008 when she was recruited as a Kenyan representative to the globally competitive business reality show The Apprentice Africa at the age of 25, has challenged employers to empower their workers by providing an inspiring work environment.

“There is a need to recognise and adjust to a human resource shift that has employees more interested in highly empowered work environments,” said Ms Mbaya. This way, she said, organisations were able to achieve their business goals by hiring and retaining the right staff.

Ms Mbaya, now a coach, author, innovator and entrepreneur, was speaking in Nairobi when her company GIBÉBÉ Ltd, held an empowerment event that challenged participants to discover and achieve their full potential.

“We call it the path of GIBÉBÉ, which is derived from the three step process it symbolises – imaGIne, BElieve, Become. In Kiswahili, JIBEBE means to uplift or transform yourself,” she said at the sesion held at Strathmore University in Nairobi.

“Organisations of today need to shift their human resource strategies towards a results-oriented people strategy that not only motivates staff but also makes them champions and achievers,” she said.

“When this becomes the culture, then the right environment is created and the company retains top talent and becomes more successful.”

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Ms Mbaya has authored an inspirational book also titled GIBÉBÉ. The book further conveys what seems to be her favourite subject — challenging individuals to exploit their potential.

In the book, she shares her lessons and experiences derived from working for different multinationals, from participating in the globally competitive show, and as a coach and innovator.

“I believe we have an obligation to share our knowledge and talents and to empower others to have the same success and happiness,” she said. The book is available in bookstores and also online.

“Many people struggle because they spend a lot of time on technical skills and programmes and none on self-development. To be able to benefit from upcoming opportunities, there is need to go the extra mile,” she offered.

“Aligning one’s education and employment choices to their talents and personal strengths is also critical,” she added.